Seabed Geosolutions B.v.

Westerngeco L.l.p.

Other

Pxgeo UK Limited

Johan Fredrik Naes

Nicolas Goujon

Arne Henning Rokkan

Rune Sindre Voldsbekk

Richard Edward Henman

Leif Johan Larsen

Mariann Ervik

Ole-Fredrik Semb

Philip Christie

James Edward Martin

Geir Valsvik

James Martin

Arve Jaatun

Kambiz Iranpour Mobarekeh

Matthew E Silvia

Lars Ranheim

Christopher J Von Alt

Systems, methods, and apparatuses related to coupling an autonomous seismic node to the seabed. In one embodiment, the node may comprise a plurality of holes on a bottom surface of the node and a plurality of openings on one or more sides and/or surfaces of the node. The bottom surface may comprise a coupling plate that is coupled to the node and/or coupled to a housing or casing that substantially surrounds a pressure node housing. The node may be configured to route water vertically from the bottom holes through the side openings and/or upper holes to decrease the potential of cavitation and fluidization of the seismic sediment and increase the seismic coupling of the node to the seabed.

Seabed coupling plate for an ocean bottom seismic node

Embodiments of systems and methods for deploying and retrieving a plurality of autonomous seismic nodes from the back deck of a marine vessel using an overboard node deployment and retrieval system are presented. The overboard system may comprise one or more overboard wheels that are actively powered to move in response to changes in movement of the deployed cable. The overboard system may comprise a first overboard wheel with a plurality of rollers and a second overboard wheel configured to detect movement and/or changes in a position of the deployment line. The overboard system may be configured to move the first overboard wheel in response to movement of the second overboard wheel. In addition, the first overboard wheel may comprise at least one opening or pocket configured to hold a node while the node passes across the wheel. Other seismic devices may also pass through the overboard system, such as transponders and weights attached to the deployment cable.

Overboard system for deployment and retrieval of autonomous seismic nodes

Embodiments of systems and methods for storing and handling a plurality of autonomous seismic nodes are presented. The node handling and storage system may be coupled to a node deployment system that deploys and/or retrieves nodes from water from the back deck of a marine vessel. One embodiment of the node handling and storage system includes a plurality of portable containers that may be assembled in a variety of configurations based on the vessel and survey requirements. The containers are coupled to an autonomous or semi-autonomous node conveyor and/or transport system that moves the nodes between and within the containers for node cleaning, downloading, charging, servicing, and storage. The conveyor system may include a plurality of different transport devices and/or systems, such as rotatable conveyors, lateral conveyors, lift mechanisms, and elevators.

Autonomous seismic node handling and storage system

Embodiments of an autonomous seismic node that can be positioned on the seabed are disclosed. The autonomous seismic node comprises a pressurized node housing substantially surrounded and/or enclosed by a non-pressurized node housing. The seismic node may be substantially rectangular or square shaped for node storage, handling, and deployment. One or more node locks may be coupled to either (or both) of the pressurized node housing or the non-pressurized node housing. The pressurized node housing may be formed as a cast monolithic titanium structure and may be a complex shape with irregularly shaped sides and be asymmetrical. In other embodiments, a non-pressurized housing may substantially enclose other devices or payloads besides a node, such as weights or transponders, and be coupled to a plurality of protrusions.

Autonomous seismic nodes for the seabed

A housing for a seismic sensing element () for use on the earth's surface comprises connecting means () for connecting the housing () to a support cable () so as to allow relative movement between the sensor housing () and the cable (). This de-couples the sensor housing from the support cable, and improves the fidelity of the sensor. The connecting means () preferably comprises resilient connecting elements, to prevent the transmission of vibrations between the support cable and the sensor housing. The sensor housing () preferably has a flat base (), so that there is good coupling between the sensor housing and the earth. Alternatively, the sensor housing can be fitted with a base member (() that has at least one flat face ().

Housing for a seismic sensing element, and a seismic sensor

A seismic cable () and a method for producing a seismic cable are disclosed. The seismic cable () comprises a sensor module (); at least one lead () to or from the sensor module (); a stress member () extending continuously through the sensor module (); and a sheath () enclosing the leads () and the stress member (), the sheath () terminating at each end of the sensor module (), and at least one mechanical guide () in the sensor module () deflecting the stress member (). The method comprises providing a cable core including a stress member () and a lead (); enclosing the cable core in a sheath (); providing an opening in the sheath (); and assembling a sensor module () to the cable core over the opening such that the stress member () extends continuously through the sensor module ().

Integrated seismic sensor cable

The present invention provides a coupling device (). The coupling device includes a collar () defining an opening therethrough to receive a seismic sensor () such that the collar () permits rotation about the seismic sensor () and at least three extensions () from the collar, the extensions () being capable of rotating with the collar () such that any two of them may couple to the ground.

Coupling aid for seismic cable

Housing for a seismic sensing element and a seismic sensor

A method of performing a seismic survey of a hydrocarbon reservoir in the earth formations beneath a body of water includes deploying a seismic cable from a drum carried by a remotely operated vehicle on the seabed. The cable is deployed into a lined trench, which is formed either concurrently with cable deployment or during a previous survey, to ensure good repeatability of successive surveys of the reservoir, in order to enable changes in characteristics of the reservoir, eg due to depletion, to be monitored.

Marine seismic surveying

A method of performing a seismic survey of earth formations beneath a body of water is disclosed. The method includes: (a) deploying a seismic cable having a plurality of seismic sensors distributed therealong in close proxmity to elongate locating means provided at the bottom of the body of water; (b) operating an acoustic source in the body of water to produce seismic signals which enter the formations; (c) detecting seismic signals which return from the formations with said sensors; and (d) removing the seismic cable from the bottom of the body of water.

Growing community of inventors

Trondheim, Norway

Johan Fredrik Naes